Steering-gear for motor-vehicles.



W. H. APPLEMAN.

STEERING GEAR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

1 1 APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 11, 1912. Patented Paar. 9, 4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WITNESSES {HE NORRIS PETFRS C0 PHOTO'LITHO ""SH/nGrON. v c

W. H. APPLEMAN. STEERING GEAR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11,1912. 1,131,590,, Patented M21119, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR W. H. APPLEMAN.

STEERING GEAR FOR MOTOR, VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 1912. L 1 1 31 59 Patenbed M2119, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

INVENTO/ WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS C0. PHOTOJJTHO" WASHINGTON, 0 c

W. H. APPLEMAN.

STEERING GEAR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 11, 1912.

1,131,590,, Patented M21129, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES INVENTOR WILLIAM H. APPLEMAN, OF BELMONT, NEW YORK.

STEERING-GEAR FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Application filed November 11, 1912. Serial No. 730,707.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. APPLE- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Belmont, in the county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steering- Gears for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates especially to that portion of the steering mechanism which actuates what is usually termed the steering arm.

The object of my invention is to provide a steering device of superior strength and durability, exceptional accessibility of interior parts, simplicity of adjustment in case of wear, and at the same time greatly reduce the cost of construction. I attain these objects in the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation with portions removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view of the operating shaft of Fig. 1 partly in section with portions removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken through the center at right angles to all longitudinal members. Fig. 1 is an elevation view of the rocker in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan and an end elevation View of a two piece thimble used in connection with the rocker of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal front elevation View of my device assembled, less the steering arm. Fig. 6 is a rear longitudinal view, partly in section and partly in elevation with portions removed. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view partly in elevation with portions removed, showing a modification of my device. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal view of the operating shaft of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view partly in elevation with portions removed, showing a modification of portions of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is an outer end view of the operating sleeves as shown in Fig. 8 and illustrating their relation to the operating shaft, while Fig. 11 is a similar view of their inner or face ends. Fig. 12 is an external elevation view of the internally threaded member shown in the upper chamber of Figs. 8 and 10. Fig. is a longitudinal sectional View, partly 1n elevation with portions removed, of a further modification of my device, and illustrating the range of adaptation of the pr ncipal features of the operatmg shaft of Fig. 1. Fig. 14 is an elevation of the inner member of said operating shaft, while Fig. 15 1s a simllar view of the outer chamber thereof. F 1g. 16 is an elevation view of the rocker used in Fig. 13. Fig. 17 is an elevat1on view partly in section and broken away, of a compression sleeve, such as is shown and used to combine the members of the operating shaft in Figs. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 13. Fig. 18 is an elevation perspective and also an end view of a thrust collar shown and used in Fig. 13.

Like symbols indicate substantially like parts throughout the various figures.

In Figs. 1, 6 and 7 a suitable housing 1 is provided; containing a longitudinal chamher which is divided and separated by a transverse chamber, the latter being machined internally as well as laterally. Each portion of said longitudinal chamber is provided with an integral thread, or rigidly supports an internal thread of like hand and pitch. Into said housing is inserted a steering post composed of inner tube 2 and outer tube 8. Tube 3 is provided with a slotted opening and a long, taper external thread at its upper end and is free to adjustable rotation upon tube 2 until rigidly locked thereto by compression nut 4:. Tube 3 is fitted with a thrust collar 5 near the upper end of housing 1, which bears against a thrust collar 5 which is seated at the bottom of a counter bore in the upper end of housing 1. It also bears against sleeve nut 6, which screws into the top of the upper chamber of housing 1. Tubes 2 and 8 are both provided with external featherways extending the full length of their externally exposed portions in housing 1. Tube 3 is provided with means for receiving a wrench just above housing 1 for the purpose of holding or turning it during adjustment. An externally threaded sleeve nut 7 closes the lower end of housing 1 and serves as a rest for the lower end of tube 2. An externally threaded sleeve 8 engages with the internal thread in the upper end of housing 1. It is bored and feathered to a sliding fit on tube 3 and at its lower end carries a circular or flange type of an abutment facing at right angles with tubes 2 and 3 and toward the center of housing 1. A duplicate of said sleeve 8, but bored and feathered to a sliding fit upon tube 2 engages with the thread in the lower chamber of housing 1. A rocker, comprising two circular plates 10 and 11 which are magral with one of said plates), which also contact peripherally with the inner Walls of said transverse chamber. Plates 1 0 and 11 are rigidly bound together upon said spacers by bolts 12 and 13, the former of which passes between the abutments of threaded sleeves 8 and 9, and being fitted with companion thimble blocks 15, forms a most effective and durable pivotal connection between threaded sleeves 8 and 9 and plate 10 and ,11 of said rocker. A shaft like extension may be fitted to either plate 10 or 11, thus providing suitable means for attaching the entire device to the vehicle, as well as for supporting steering arm 18 at a distance, when it is not desirable to attach it to either plate 10 or 11 integrally as indicated by the dotted stub lines leading from plate .10. 'At each end of housing 1 are located small bosses having short slots cut through them lengthwise with housing 1. Through these bosses are inserted bolts 16 and 17 which serve to compress the ends of housing 1 and thus lock sleeve nuts 6 and 7 in position. Except" during adjustment steering post .tubes2 and 3 are rigidly locked together and perform as if integral; therefore turning :steeringpost tube 2 to either the right or left .causessleeves .8 and 9 to both rotate and lrnove longitudinally in unison, and as bolt ;12, aided-by ,thimbles 15 contact with the faces of both sleeves 8 and 9, the rocker, composed of plates 10 and 11 and carrying steeringarm 18 is caused to rock or oscillate inya corresponding direction. In case of .wear between bolt 12 and thimbles 15, or the latter and sleeves ;8 and 9, or even of the threads between said sleeves and housing 1, it can be promptly eliminated by slacking sleeve Hut 4 and by then turning tube 3 slightly tothe' right, after which, by thoroughly tightening nut 4: the device is ready forservice.

in modification disclosed in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive, the chief distinction grows out of placing the thread of the upper chamber of housing 1 in a separate sleeve type member 1, said member being adjustably rotatable, and being locked longitudinally as well as against rotation in housing 1, by compression bolt 16,01 it may be locked by compres .sion bolts 16 and 16 and set screw 16 as shown in Fig. 10. The latter permits of sleeve 1 thenbeingadjusted either longitu dinally or rotatably, as Well as of its being removed without the removal of a single bolt. Figs. 8 and 10 permit of the use of a single tube steering post as shown by Fig. 9, and whereby threaded sleeves 8 and 9 are rotation.

duplicates, both being bored and feathered to a sliding fit on tube 2. Otherwise modification Fig. 8 is substantially the same as the device shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive.

Figsf13 to 18 inclusive present a further modification, in which by threading the lower-ends of steering post tubes 2 and 3, and of using internally threaded non-rotatable nuts or sleeves 8 and 9, all adjustments for wear are efi'eoted the same as in Figs. 1 I to 7 nclusive, 2'. e., by merely slacking nut 1 oftube 3 in Fig. 13 and by then turning tube 8 .to the right or left as desired, after which by means of nut 4 it is rigidly locked to tube 2. Fig. 13 calls for a slight change in the rocker (see Fig. 16) and in which plates 10 and 11 are flat on their inner faces and are spacedat such distance apart as to cause them to guide nuts 8 and 9 against A small roller spacer ll is inserted between nuts 8 and 9 on the opposite side of steering post 2 and 8 from pivotal ,bolt 12to aid in preserving the alinement of said nuts, and as it andits seats are subject to wear, its size can be-so determined and adapted as to cause its wear to conform to ,that of bolt ,12 and thimble 15 closely enough meet all practical requirements.

The imitation nut shown near the upper end of tube 3 is a'cufi' rigidly attached there- ,to holding it during adjustment, while thrust collar 5, by being split, permits of its removal, and in which event sleeve nut 6, by being bored to clear the threads on tube 3, may also beremo'ved.

lnladju'stment and operation Figs. 13, 1 1 and conform closely'to Figs. 1 and 2 of my device. In Figs. 1, 6, 8 and 13 sleeves 8 and 9 [are inserted into housing 1 through ,the external openings of the transverse chamberand in each of said figures the steering postsfwhether threaded or keywayed. can bewithdrawn without otherwise dis mantling my device or removing it from the vehicle.

i I claim g 1. The combination of a housing having ilongitudinal chamber therein and carrying upper and lower internal threads, a rotatable steering post inserted Within said longitudinal chamber, a pair of sleeve type members encircling and rotatable by said steermgpost, said sleeve type members havingiegkternal threads which engage with the internal threads carried by said housing, and means for adjusting said externally threaded nembers toward or from each other.

2. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal chamber therein carrying upper andloweninternal threads, a rotatable steering post mserted in said longitudinal ehamber, a pair of sleeve type members encircling and rotatable by said steering post;

having external threads which engage with the internal threads carried by said housing, a rocker journaled in said housing having an arm which engages with'both of said externally threaded sleeve type members, and a means of adjusting said externally threaded sleeve type members toward and from each other.

3. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal chamber therein and carrying upper and lower internal threads, a rotatable steering post inserted within said longitudinal chamber, a pair of sleeve type members encircling and rotatable by said steering post, said sleeve type members having external threads which engage with the internal threads carried by said housing, a rocker j ournaled in said housing having an arm inserted between both of said rotatable externally threaded sleeve type members.

4. In the combination of a housing having a longitudinal chamber therein, a steering post inserted therein comprising two members which; while rotatable in unison, are also adjustably related rotatably, a sleeve type member encircling and moving longitudinally on each of said two members of said steering post, means for rotatably adjusting one of said steering post members in relation to the other and for locking them rigidly together.

5. The combination of a housing carrying internal threads, a rotatable steering post entering said housing, two members rotatable by, and moving longitudinally upon said steering post, each having external threads which engage with the internal threads carried by said housing, and means for adjusting one of said externally threaded members from or toward the other.

' 6. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal chamber therein, a steering post inserted therein comprising two members which while rotatable in unison, are also adjustably related rotatably, a sleeve type member encircling and moving longitudinally on each of said two members of flopiel of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the said steering post, a rocker j ournaled in said housing having an arm which engages with both of said sleeve type longitudinally moving members, means for rotatably adjusting one member of said steering post in relation to the other and for locking them rigidly together.

' 7. The combination of a housing having a longitudinal chamber therein, a rotatable steering post inserted therein comprising two adjustably related members both of which extend outside of said housing asleeve type member encircling each of said steering post members within said housing, a rocker j ournaled in said housing having an arm which engages with each of said sleeve type members, and external means for ad justing one member of said steering post in relation to the other and for locking them rigidly together.

8. The combination of a housing, a rota table steering post inserted therein comprising an inner and an outer member; adjusta sleeve type member ably related rotatably, moving longitudinally upon each of said members of said steering post, a rocker journaled in said housing having an arm which engages with each of said sleeve type members, means for adjusting said outer member in relation to said inner member and for locking them both rigidly together.

9. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post inserted therein comprising an outer and an inner member; adjustably related rotatably, a sleeve type member moving longitudinally upon each of said members of said steering post, a rocker j ournaled in said housing having an arm extending between and acted upon by both of said sleeve type members, and means for locking both members of said steering post rigidly together.

W. H. APPLEMAN.

Witnesses:

J. DEMMER, H. W. GLAD.

Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. G. 

